 |
|
 |
| |
| Departments |
Home
Columns, Special
Topics & Features:
The Columns:
Angels, Guides, &
Loving Spirits:
Angel Blessings:
with Dr. Doreen Virtue
Ask Valerie Morrison,
Internationally
Acclaimed Psychic
Trust Your Vibes
By Dr. Sonia Choquette, PhD.
Internationally Acclaimed Psychic Healer & Author
Body Mind & Spirit with John Holland
Psychic Medium, Author
& Teacher,
Astrologer's Notes:
Carin Martin,
Astrologer
Basil Fearrington,
Astrologer
Diana Stone,
Astrologer &
Huna Shaman
Jeff Jawer
Astrologer
Glenn Perry,
Astrologer
Ray Merriman,
Financial Astrology:
MMA Market Week
Noel Tyl,
Astrologer
Daily Aspect Calendar
by Care
MoonWatching with Dana Gerhardt and Friends
Creating Bridges:
The Spiritual &
Philosophical
Act of Power
Discovering the Key to Living Your Sacred Dream
by Lynn Andrews
The BUT Doctor
Healing America's Real Crack Problem One Person at a Time
by Eddie Conner
Avant-Gardening:
Insights by Frank &
Vicky Giannangelo
From The Heart:
Alan Cohen
Teachings from the Western Mystery Traditions: The Esoteric "Paths of Return"
by Jacquelyn Small, Eupsychia
"Letters from Heaven:" Spiritual Guidance from
the Hebrew Alphabet
by Avigayil Landsman
Spirituality in Daily Life: by Bhikshuni Thubten Chodron
The Conscious Column
by David Ault
Spiritual Mastery
for the 21st Century
Dr. Gwen MacGregor
Pearls of Wisdom:
with Care & Aeon
Encounters on the
Shaman's Path with
Dr. Hank Wesselman, PhD.
Anthropologist, Zoologist, Author, Shamanic Healer & Teacher
Feng Shui & Chinese Metaphysics:
Inside Chinese Metaphysics
by Barbara Finch,
Feng Shui &
Chinese Astrology
In Practice:
How to Create a Successful Holistic Practice- from Start to Success
by Shaun Brown,
CMT, BA BeWell Publications
Pet Care:
Dr. Carson's Holistic Animal Care
by Dr. Kathleen Carson, D.V.M.
Tarot:
Moment to Moment
by Gigi Miner
Author, Tarot Consultant, & Teacher.
Rosengarten's Tarot Of The Nine Paths
by Dr. Art Rosengarten
Reviews:
Tarot, Cartomancy,
Oracle Decks,
Books, & Software.
by Bonnie Cehovet,
Tarot Master
Humor:
Wake Up Laughing.Com:
Swami Beyondananda
Features:
Blessings & Messages
Event Calendar
Historical Notes & Data
The MetaPersonals
Opinion-Editorial
Symbols, Seals,
Amulets & Talismans
The What in the
World Department
Trivia & Other
Novel Moments
Interviews:
Watch for Upcoming Announcements
Healing & Alternative
Health:
Flower Essences
by Donna Cunningham
Living in Harmony-Astrology, Yoga & Ayurveda:
Venkat & Christine Machiraju
"Spirit and Practice
of the Wise Woman
Tradition"
By Susun Weed
Tai Chi & Qigong
by Bill Douglas
The Holistic Mystic,
by Lonny Brown
Medical Intuition: Tune
in to Your Body and Improve Your Health
by Caroline Sutherland, Sutherland Communications
Conscious Breathing
for Health and Self Transformation
by Dennis Lewis
Transformational Healing through the Violet Flame!
by Eva Kettles
Herbs for Health
with Kami McBride
The Directory
The Book Nook
Archives:
Past Issues
The Book Nook
Archives:
Past Issues
|
|
|
|
|
|
Creating Bridges: Spirituality & Philosophy:
From the Heart:
Keeping Up with the Keys |
|
|
by Alan Cohen |
|
|
I saw an extraordinary film called Standing in the Shadows of Motown. This inspiring documentary chronicles the careers of about a dozen musicians who created and recorded the background music for all the great Motown stars, such as the Supremes, Temptations, Four Tops, and on and on. The posse, known as “the Funk Brothers” turned out more hit records than were ever sold by the Beatles, Beach Boys, and Rolling Stones combined.
The Funk Brothers’ keyboardist described how he and the group would drop into musical grooves in which the music seemed to be playing them. “My job,” he explained, “was to get my fingers to keep up with the keys that were pressing themselves down.”
If you have ever been infused with inspiration, you know exactly what the brother meant. When you open yourself as a vehicle for creative expression, the song, painting, book, speech, or lovemaking takes over and you feel more like it is living through you than that you are manufacturing it. In that moment you are one with the creator and the creation, and without effort you feel totally fulfilled and bring ultimate joy, color, and good to the world.
Wayne Dyer describes the difference between motivation and inspiration: “Motivation,” Dr. Dyer explains, “is when you take hold of an idea. Inspiration is when an idea takes hold of you.” Seek, then, to be inspired rather than motivated.
Stephen Spielberg describes his experience thus: “Once a month an idea crashes into my brain when I wake up, and I can’t eat breakfast until I do something about it.”
I saw a film of boxing great Muhammad Ali. The film, slowed down to illustrate Ali’s masterful technique, showed him ducking punches before his opponent threw them. Something in Ali was so attuned to the flow that he knew what was coming and reacted on the basis of intuition only. Ali was not thinking at all; he was just feeling and knowing.
This exalted and highly productive state has been called by many names. Spiritualists know it as the Tao; athletes stay in the Zone; actors disappear into character; artists call upon their muse. Living and acting in this consciousness has little to do with figuring things out, and a lot to do with feeling things out. More sensing than planning. More being than doing.
In our culture we have the doing thing down pat. We carefully organize our to-do lists, leave no detail to chance or the potential ineptness of others, and clutch at our Palm Pilots like holy grails. And they all serve their purpose. Yet there is another element of life that many of us are literally dying for, and that is connection with the flow. The flow is the one thing you cannot control or organize. You can only move with it. And it will serve you well if you trust it.
The Star Wars series popularized the salutation, “May the Force be with you.” Yet this benediction falls a tad short of a more accurate blessing: “May you be with the Force.” The Force, you see, is already with you. It is beating your heart, breathing your lungs, and operating billions of microscopic processes in your body and trillions of other bodies, not to mention organizing and sustaining the entire universe. The Force is operating everywhere always, intelligently and masterfully. The question is, are you aligned with it? Are you listening to its guidance and dancing in its flow? If so, you cannot lose. If not, stop whatever you are doing and listen for it. It is the one answer your mind cannot conjure, but your heart can illuminate.
Once I was about to board an airplane when the agent announced the flight would be delayed several hours. I had requested an upgrade to first class, so I headed to the counter to try to influence the agent to give me a seat. By the time I arrived a long line had formed, with many people seeking to get their travel needs met. Quickly I realized I would be spending most of my time until the flight waiting. I asked myself what I would be doing if I were not anxious about getting my upgrade, and my answer was, “I would go to the executive lounge and relax.” So I decided to trust, let go of trying to force the upgrade, and kicked back for a few hours.
Shortly before the flight I headed back to the gate, where I heard a voice on the loudspeaker, “Paging Mr. Cohen.” I approached the agent, who told me, “Your upgrade came through.” Then she added, “That’s amazing — it wasn’t there a few minutes ago.” She gave me the ticket without requesting the appropriate coupons, and I asked her, “Don’t you want these coupons?” She answered, “The computer here says the seat is paid for, and that is good enough for me.”
Good things are wanting and trying to happen to you and through you. Music is calling to be played, success is begging to be achieved, and solid, loving relationships are seeking to blossom. Are you willing to let them? Can you let love find you and express through you? Quit trying to figure out which keys to press, or forcing the ones you have decided should go down. Instead, watch for which keys that are pressing themselves, and then do your best to keep your fingers in the holes.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Alan Cohen,
Author
|
 |
Alan Cohen is the author of the best-selling "The Dragon Doesn't Live Here Anymore," the award-winning "A Deep Breath of Life," and the acclaimed "Why Your Life Sucks and What You Can Do About It."
This August join Alan in Maui for his life-transforming Mastery Training.
For information on this seminar and a free catalog of Alan's books, tapes, and seminars:
Phone:
1•800•568•3079
or visit: www.alancohen.com
email: admin@alancohen.com
or write:
P.O. Box 835, Haiku, HI 96708.
|
 |
You'll find it in
The
Directory!
|
|
|
|
|
